Quality Control Inspections: A Guide for the Professional

"Quality control inspections are one of my numerous responsibilities," a reader writes. "Can you tell me what I should look for and automation is becoming more and more significant in quality control.

The term "quality control" is a misnomer in that it is difficult to truly control quality outcomes in custodial operations at a single level, as is the case with many other industries. It appears that your role is to inspect completed work, which is a difficult task given that it is normally preferable to incorporate quality control into the cleaning process from the beginning. Better to concentrate on the actions and processes that must be followed in order for the contract to be completed well for the customer while remaining on budget. Unquestionably, timely inspection is critical since traffic can easily undo whatever repair that has been completed in a certain region. Due to the fact that you have limited custodial experience, I recommend that you take the measures outlined below.

Use the contract specifications as a reference to spend some time cleaning the places you have been assigned to evaluate.
Attend a meeting with your vendor/distributor to learn about their products and services, including chemicals, tools, equipment, and procedures, to better grasp what it takes to execute the work "correctly."
Inspect the work for compliance with the cleaning schedule to ensure that it genuinely meets the standards.
Job cards for everyday tasks, with time frames built in, should be available for employees, if they are not already present.
The floor techs should be assigned to specific jobs on a regular basis, such as carpet cleaning and hard floor work, which should be scheduled in advance.
Whenever possible, modify the language of your inspections to reflect the standards.
Meet with the client (or their agent) on a regular basis to undertake joint inspections and gain a better understanding of the contract.
Cooperative inspections can, of course, assist in dispelling any misunderstandings about the scope of the work that has been contracted.
Make a commitment to learning more about the cleaning process and, when necessary, to providing training to ensure that employees are using the most effective techniques and procedures possible.